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Residents getting desperate as large bear wreaks havoc in Colorado mountain town

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Residents getting desperate as large bear wreaks havoc in Colorado mountain town


It’s a big bear and it looks like it’s had a rough go. With one eye looking blinded and an ear possibly missing, it seems to have been in a tangle with something. But at its size, it’s hard to fathom what could do that kind of damage to it.

Sabrina Vasquez and her husband own a cabin in the Colorado mountain town of Idaho Springs.

“He’s gotta be over 500 pounds,” Vasquez told CBS News Colorado.

The bear has been caught on camera at their cabin on State Highway 103 numerous times. It is a serial breaking-and-entering specialist that has gotten in time after time.

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A bear causing havoc in Idaho Springs appears to be blind in one eye and missing an ear.

Sabrina Vasquez


“He ruined the carpet with food, feces, urine, so the carpet is ripped out,” Vasquez explained, showing the bare kitchen floor. “We’re trying to get some window companies to come up here and fix the windows.”

They have put a so-called “unwelcome mat” by the back door near the ruined bay window, which has screws facing up, so any animal stepping on it would be painfully discouraged from invading. Last year while they were out of state at a funeral, the bear busted in time and time again.

“He was in here for four days,” Vasquez said.

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Their neighbor’s cabin next door was hit last week.

“We’re in cabin jail,” she explained. “Because we can’t leave. If we leave, he will know that we’re gone and he will break in.”

The bear, which is likely a male due to its size, has been a problem for several years.

“We’ve been hearing of this bear in Idaho Springs for a couple of years now and we have a record of it breaking into multiple cabins, probably over a dozen over that time period,” said Kara Van Hoose, spokesperson for Colorado Parks and Wildlife. “So we’ve seen that escalation in behavior with that bear.”

The origin of the problem may have been the actions of one of Vasquez’s neighbors.

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“Oh, I’m sure because of the neighbor feeding it,” said Vasquez.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife did warn and then cite a neighbor for feeding large game animals a couple of years ago said Van Hoose. “When you’re doing it over a period of time, you can create an environment when bears, when deer, when elk, when mountain lions are coming back to an area again and again because they found food there.”

Now Vasquez says she’s going to the cabin less if her husband isn’t there. She worries about what could happen. “He’s huge, he’s massive. Biggest bear I’ve ever seen,” said Vasquez.

CPW has brought a trap to their property.  A bear did get in last week and stepped on the trigger, but the door didn’t fully close and it backed out. But looking at video from one of the cameras on the property it’s clear that it wasn’t the problem bear anyway. It looked about half the size of the one causing problems.

“The bad bear is super smart,” Vasquez said.

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CPW says a bear in this much trouble will have to be euthanized. Vasquez realizes it’s needed but does not relish the fact.

“No, because we’re pro-bear. I mean that’s why we live here, we love the wildlife,” she said.

“When we see that pattern of behavior of continually coming into human spaces, no regard for humans or any sort of fear of humans, in that case, that’s something that the bear can’t unlearn and (that) behavior that can’t be broken,” said Van Hoose.

Moving such an animal wouldn’t work either.

“If you move that bear to another location, it’s not going to break its prior behavior. It’s just going to break into houses in that new location. You’re not fixing the problem. You’re just placing that bear with problems in a new location to then break into houses,” said Van Hoose.

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Vasquez and her husband believe with the bear being a danger and trapping not working, it’s time for CPW to take more action.

“You would think that they would have somebody out there that can hunt down the bear,” Vasquez said.

But CPW will continue to try its current methods, says Van Hoose.

“I think we’ll continue to try to trap the bear, if that’s possible, at this point and then rely on sightings and other evidence that we find nearby,” she said.

The animal is a threat, but so far has not broken into homes with people inside. That’s one line it appears not to have crossed. 

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Colorado weather: Up to 14 inches of snow forecast for mountains

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Colorado weather: Up to 14 inches of snow forecast for mountains


Snow started Monday night in Colorado’s mountains and will continue throughout the week, likely making its way into the Denver area on Friday, according to the National Weather Service.

Colorado’s mountain roads, including Interstate 70 at the Eisenhower-Johnson Tunnel and Berthoud Pass, were already snow-covered Tuesday morning, according to the weather service.

“With more snow to come throughout the day, a Winter Weather Advisory was issued for the Front Range Mountains,” forecasters said.

That advisory will be in effect until 8 p.m. Tuesday for parts of Jackson, Larimer, Boulder, Grand, Gilpin, Clear Creek, Summit and Park counties, including Rocky Mountain National Park. Additional snow accumulations between 6 and 14 inches are possible on Tuesday, forecasters said in the alert.

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As of Tuesday, the weather service’s snow forecasts included:

  • 2 inches on I-70’s Vail Pass, with up to 3 inches possible
  • 3 inches in Winter Park, with up to 4 inches possible
  • 4 inches in Eldora and on U.S. 6’s Loveland Pass, with up to 5 inches possible
  • 4 inches on U.S. 40’s Berthoud Pass near Winter Park, with up to 7 inches possible
  • 5 inches at Bear Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park, with up to 7 inches possible
  • 6 inches on U.S. 34’s Milner Pass in RMNP, with up to 8 inches possible
  • 7 inches on Colorado 14’s Cameron Pass near Fort Collins, with up to 8 inches possible
  • 9 inches on Mount Zirkel, the highest summit of Colorado’s Park Range of the Rocky Mountains, with up to 11 inches possible

“Travel could be very difficult,” weather service forecasters stated in the winter weather advisory. “The hazardous conditions will impact the Tuesday morning and evening commutes.”



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Weiss keeps focus on job as Colorado AHL assistant, not historic promotion | NHL.com

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Weiss keeps focus on job as Colorado AHL assistant, not historic promotion | NHL.com


In NHL.com’s Q&A feature called “Sitting Down with …” we talk to key figures in the game, gaining insight into their lives on and off the ice. This week, we feature Kim Weiss, assistant coach of the Colorado Eagles, the Colorado Avalanche’s American Hockey League affiliate. Weiss was named assistant for the Eagles on Jan. 16, joining Seattle Kraken assistant Jessica Campbell as the only women in the NHL or AHL to be a full-time assistant coach.

Kim Weiss doesn’t think about the history she’s made that often.

The 36-year-old is too busy with her duties that come with being the Colorado Eagles’ assistant coach, including breaking down 5-on-5 video — she was the team’s video coach prior to her promotion — presenting it to the team, pushing pucks and running practice drills.

“When the title change happened and the promotion happened, I left the office of the general manager (Kevin McDonald), and I got back to work,” Weiss told NHL.com. “In the moment you’re not really thinking about that kind of stuff, but obviously it’s an honor.

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“I’m especially grateful just because of my background. I didn’t play on a national team, I didn’t grow up in Minnesota or any kind of a hockey hotbed. So to get at this level and to have this legacy, for lack of a better word, from the place I’m from, a kid from Maryland that played Division III (hockey at Trinity College), it makes me even more proud to show people that you can get somewhere no matter where you start from. Then you add in being a female and all of that, I’m really proud of my journey and I’m proud of all the people who helped me along the way to get here.”

It’s been quite a ride for Weiss with the Eagles, who are second in the AHL Pacific Division. Last week, Weiss talked to NHL.com about her new duties, working with the Avalanche and more women in hockey.

So what was it like the day McDonald called you into the office to give you the news of your promotion?

“Honestly, it’s an affirmation of the work you put in. That’s what the GM said to me. Last season I had a different head coach (Aaron Schneekloth) and we had a different assistant (Dan Hinote) that both moved onto the NHL, and they both spoke highly of me to our GM in the summer and to our new head coach (Mark Letestu). Getting to know Mark this year and working for him, everything that he had heard of me got confirmed through the first few months of the year.

“I don’t exactly know how the process went about to change the title, but I think he went to Kevin, and I know Kevin said this to me, this line of, ‘You’re doing all the work that the assistant does, so why aren’t we calling you one?’ I’m already on the ice with the team and I run skill skates and scratch skates and present (video). I’m doing everything the assistant coach does; I just had a different title. So I really appreciate them just giving me the opportunity to kind of advance my career and keep doing what I love to do, which is coach hockey.”

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Letestu also had you run one of the practices earlier in the season. How did that come about?

“Every assistant got (that chance). The big thing coming in was, he had been an assistant coach before and he wanted to make sure we all had a voice and a say, and we weren’t just coming onto the ice for practice like, ‘Oh, here we go. Push some pucks. Put my track suit on for 20 minutes, push some pucks and jump off.’ He wanted to make sure we had the platform in front of the players.

“It started with our longest-tenured assistant coach, Tim Branham. It was nothing new or scary for any of us, but just a different dynamic. Not every staff allows their assistants to take full responsibility of a full practice. Then Derek (Army) took it and then the next week I took one.”



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How the Colorado Rockies Are Actually Building Its Opening Day Roster

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How the Colorado Rockies Are Actually Building Its Opening Day Roster


The Colorado Rockies are seeking the right balance and experimenting under their first full-year manager, Warren Schaeffer.

It’s a different Rockies roster compared to last season. There are new faces on the active roster for the start of the 2026 season. Having a team with youth and a mix of veterans can be a successful formula for the Rockies.

Knowing how the elevation affects things in Colorado, the Rockies will see which pitcher can thrive playing in Coors Field. Anything can happen this season.

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The Rockies Must Have A Roster That Can Stay Durable 

Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Ryan Feltner | Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
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A Rotation of Veterans

Rockies president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta added several arms over 34, including Michael Lorenzen, Jose Quintana, and Tomoyuki Sugano.

The fifth starter will be a competitive battle. The Rockies have options in who will win that fifth and final spot. Here is the prediction of the Rockies’ starting rotation:

  • Kyle Freeland
  • Michael Lorenzen
  • Ryan Feltner
  • Jose Quintana
  • Chase Dollander

Ryan Feltner has battled injuries. The 29-year-old suffered back spasms and shoulder injuries, preventing him from performing in 2025. He’s determined to have a breakout season. 

He had a lot of momentum in his final 15 starts of the 2024 season. Feltner posted a 2.75 ERA and finished with a career-high 162 1/3 innings. Feltner has been building his weight-room capacity and getting himself ready for the new season. Hopefully, he can stay healthy and produce.

Flexibility on the Infield

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The Rockies’ acquisition of Willi Castro was a smart move. We know the Rockies’ future at shortstop is Ezequel Tovar. However, the Rockies organization is being cautious. They want to make sure they have an extra body on hand in case something goes south. Castro is a former All-Star and a versatile defender. 

Eduoard Julien is known for playing second base, but he can also play first base if the Rockies need him there. It all depends on many situations and circumstances. Julien is one of the players on the Rockies roster who must prove his worth.

In terms of first base, TJ Rumfield is a front-office option to serve that position. He has the size, length, and youth to play the position. Rumfield is having an impressive start to the spring so far. 

Current Roster and Opening Day Prediction Lineup

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Ezequiel Tovar, SS 
Tyler Freeman, 2B 
Mickey Moniak, DH 
Hunter Goodman, C 
Kyle Karros, 3B
Jordan Beck, RF 
Brenton Doyle, CF
Jake McCarthy, LF
TJ Rumfield, 1B

The lineup can change overnight, and especially in the next few weeks. If, for some reason, Freeman can’t okay second base to start the season, then Castro is the leading man to take the spot. 



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